Last month (November 2013) Murray talks in Boulder about dramatic changes in characteristics founders felt essential for self-government (marriage, industriousness, honesty, and religious) separating between working and upper classes, leading to America coming apart (title of his recent book.)

We're live by 5 p.m. Mountain time, Monday thru Friday on YouTube Live Events, Google+ Live Hangouts, or here on JohnWren.com. You are welcome to share this any way you'd like with friends who might find what we are doing helpful.

If you'd like to be a guest on an episode of the new SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show we'll be doing after the 1st of the year, call and leave a complete, confidential message about who you are and what you'd like to share, and when a good time for me to get back with you via telephone in the next couple of days. It's ok to email me, but chances are I won't see it unless you've called and left a message, too. Call me at (303)861-1447

Join us this Friday, or any Friday, for our Denver IDEA Salon, open discussion meeting about startup, and our Denver IDEA Cafe startup workshop. Also contact us if you'd like help starting similar groups in cooperation with your local chamber or other group. For more information and optional RSVP see link to Meetup.com on our Small Business Chamber site http://www.SmallBizChamber.org or call John Wren (303)861-1447.
It's later than you think! But it's only too late if you don't start now!
Just start!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Are you using Twitter? I'll talk about Twitter on The Startup Show tomorrow, here live by 5 p.m. Mountain. Scroll down to see last Friday's show, I talked about the grassroots, why this is such a critical time in business and politics.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations took 8 years to become a best selling book. I expect the same thing will happen with this ground breaking book.

The conventional wisdom is that business startup depends on market research and careful, formal planning.

Every college and university teach those working with startups to ask, "Have you written a business plan?"

If this conventional wisdom was valid we'd have a planned economy, not a market economy.

What's driven the phenomenal growth of this country until the early 70s was the fact that nearly all startup were boot strapped, there were not written business plans.

That fact was clearly demonstrated with the research of Dr. Amar Bhide, documented in a series of articles in the Harvard Business Review and culminating in his book "The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses" in 1994, at which time the publisher of Inc Magazine said it was the most important book about startup ever written.

He was also influence by the first hand experience he had growing up with a successful entrepreneur, from how he could observe what he calls in the book "opportunistic adaptation." We spent a day on the University of Denver campus talking with instructors and visiting classes, the way he would explain the process, "you don't want to buy this lamp, here, how about this rug."

Bhide's book was well researched, well documented, well written, but still it was ignored by the Small Business Administration, the tax-funded mechanism set up in 1953 by big businesses with the intention, I believe, to snuff out the entrepreneurial spirit of America, along with the entrepreneurship educational network across the country.

More recently Sarah Sarasvathy has reached similar conclusions to Bhide using a different research methodology.

The authors give credit to Sarasvathy, but not to Bhide. When I asked them about this on a webinar, Len admitted he knew Amar, had taught with him at Harvard, he was very much aware of his insights, and that it was a mistake not to have given him any credit at all.

What are the Bhide/Sarasvathy insights that are incorporated into this book? That in past years when the USA economy was flourishing, successful business did not start the way the SBA has said since 1953 that they should start. This SBA drumbeat has been picked up by every college and university entrepreneurship program. Show me one that requires Bhide's book to be read. Outrageous!

Insights include the fact that successful entrepreneurs in the past did not do formal market research or engaged in formal planning. The business plan competitions are an enormous was of time and money, and they teach the wrong lesson.

Insights include the fact that successful entrepreneurs bootstrap, they don't try and borrow money. As Mark Cuban has said, "only a fool would borrow money to start a business," yet students of startup today are being taught about how to impress venture capitalists.

Insights include the fact that successful entrepreneurs don't think long range, they for sure don't have an exit strategy when they are just starting. Recently a survey found that 87% of business owners do not have a exit plan.

So where does Just Start fit in? This bold book is a radical attempt to right the wrong, the festering wound that erupted in 1970 when Nixon went to China, the culmination of the disease that was spread by the SBA, that was perhaps was first allowed to infect this country in 1910 when Harvard awarded the first MBA.

And it has been virtually ignored. It should have been at the top of the best seller list, and in my opinion, as I said earlier, I believe that could still happen.

What will bring that about would be a changing of the guard at the Kauffman Foundation. Marion Kauffman was an entrepreneur very much in the classical mold, starting a very, very successful business out of the trunk of his car. He died, and it appears his well intentioned widow, now deceased, was misled, and a mechanism for pouring gasoline on the academic approach to entrepreneurship that is killing startup in this country just as surely as some see the academic approach to poetry is killing of real poets and poetry (see Epstein's column in last April 1st Wall Street Journal.)

There is hope. Steve Blank and his student Eric Ries have moved away somewhat from the academic approach to startup, at this point it's hard to tell if Startup Weekends, Global Entrepreneurship Week, Tech Stars, etc etc are helping or hurting.

What is clearly the major problem is the Small Business Administration. When I asked Steve Blank what he thought of the SBA startup efforts, the whole complex of activities from SCORE (I've suggested they should change their name to SQUASH), SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers) across the country that disseminate the SBA research/planning propoganda, a network created by virtually bribing local chambers of commerce. Blank has told me that from his perspective at Stanford, he didn't know anyone who has anything to do with the SBA.

That may be true for the Stanford crowd, but the deadly network is having an impact, it is clear.

For proof of the deadening effect, the smoking gun, the statistics that show our stagnations, see Nobel economist Edmund Phelps recently published, very fine Mass Flourishing. When Phelps was introduced at Oxford, it was said the book will, "transform economics." Some have said it's the most important book since The Wealth of Nations.

Phelps effectively demonstrates that what he calls corporatism combined with socialism have just about killed off the new economy that build this country, research and planning have choked off the vitalism and dynamism that we saw from about 1840 or so to 1970.

Phelps offers some remedies worth considering, for one thing study groups in Washington DC that would take up his book, and I'd suggest they also read Bhide and this book that is under consideration here, Just Start.

As a matter of fact, I suggest that the DC study groups start with Just Start, or at least read the one page summary in the back. What do we want? To restore vitalism and dynamism into our economy. What are the smart steps we can quickly take in that direction?

The first thing let's do, let's kill the SBA!

If you are serious about startup, skip the SBA. Instead buy this book, take an afternoon and digest it, then the next morning Just Start!

The book suggests bringing other people along. I always suggest that those starting check with a good CPA before investing a lot of time or money. A good CPA will help you quickly see the financial implications of what you are considering, and they will make sure that you can skip going to a lawyer until you are further along.

But don't expect encouragement. For that attend one of our Small Business Chamber IDEA Cafe Startup Workshops. Or at least watch The Startup Show, live by 5 p.m. Mountain each day on my JohnWren.com or YouTube Live Events or Google + Live Hangouts.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Startup Show, live by 5 p.m. Mountain each day Monday thru Friday, sponsored by the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. "We help each other create a Good Living." Question? Request for a SPECIAL REPORT interview with a guest? Call me (John Wren) at (303)861-1447.

On the startup show today both Evaluation and Action from our IDEA Model.

How do you know when you are ready to start? What can you do to help yourself as you take those first few steps? Who can tell you?

Tomorrow, Friday (Dec 27) Denver IDEA Salon & Workshop. Free! Join us to help get 2014 off to a good start. Contact us if Denver's too far, we'll help you start a new group in cooperation with your local chamber or other group. More info and RSVP at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH FRIENDS, THEY WILL THANK YOU AND SO WILL I IF YOU'LL LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE. :-)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

We'll talk about what to do once you have an idea. There is more than one way to go forward, taking a pause to think of alternatives can often yield big rewards. These moments in life, turning points, don't come every day. Which roads are possible now?

Join our Small Business Chamber of Commerce Meetup.com site, I'll go overboard to delight you. For details see http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber or call me (303)861-1447. But do it now, I'd hate for us to miss this opportunity to work together. We are going to close memberships when we reach 100.

We'll be taking a new direction with the Small Business Chamber of Commerce in 2014. Media release will be made Thursday. In the mean time, you can get a hint by checking out our See http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber site, where we are doing something very unusual.

For many reasons, we are going to start charging a monthly membership fee. If you are the first paid member it will only cost $1.50. Then $2.50 for the second membership, $3.50 for #3, etc. And the small fee is guaranteed, your money back if you are not satisfied for the first 30 days.

I'll be knocking myself out to delight these first few paid members. Check it out, if it looks like it might be helpful to you, give it a try, ok? See http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

Consulting & Coaching practice limited to startups: 1) individuals
starting
a new career, project or campaign, or new business; and 2)
corporations, chambers of commerce, service clubs and other groups who want to
encourage employee or member creativity that leads to inspired action--
reactivate inactive customers/members; new customers/members; introduce new
products/services to existing customers; collect past due accounts. Ask me to
speak at your next event. Free or negotiated price invoiced in advance.

Group to start study groups using
Edmund Phelps’s new book. Mass Flourishing and James Martin’s Jesuit Guide.

Denver— At an IDEA Salon today, longtime community
activist and adult educator John S Wren announced the preliminary 2014 plans
for the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc, a Colorado non-profit. Everyone
is invited to comment on the dynamic plans at the free IDEA Salon open
discussion meeting, each Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th
& Grant, Denver. Free. For more see http://www.SmallBizChamber.org
or call (303)861-1447

“Since
1727 our mission is to strengthen the grassroots in business and politics
through adult education,” said Wren. “When people ask me who is our other
co-founder, I tell them it’s Ben Franklin. He founded the first startup group
in America, he called it the Junto.”

“We’ve
now joined the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry and will be
reaching out to the 70 or so local chambers in Colorado who are members of it
and others, helping where we can to provide more real help to startups and
small businesses, and helping to educate everyone in the community about the
realities of the new economy, the return to the vitalism and dynamism that
Nobel economist Edmund Phelps talks about in his new book Mass Flourishing, in light of James Martin’s Jesuit Guide, thinking in line with my Daring Mighty Things—The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New
Business, and with what Ben Franklin advocated.

“To promote the study groups, next week we’ll announce a
contest we believe will result in more media interest in the Colorado Caucus,
the best chance for the common person to serve in elected public office, than
we’ve seen in the past. More informed participation from those who are new to
Colorado or just new to Colorado politics in our unique, wonderful neighborhood
system for nominating to the primary ballot is needed if the grassroots is
really going to be restored.”

Wren www.JohnWren.com(303)861-1447 attended Denver Thomas Jefferson High School, Cornell
College, the University of Denver (BA’69, MBA’80) and Regis University where he
studied adult learning with an education grant from Charles Schwab. He has been
trained as a Great Books Discussion leader, and he is one of the founders of
Denver Socrates Café, the IDEA Café Startup Workshop, Franklin Circles, and the
Jesuit Guide Faith Sharing Groups. He is the co-founder & CEO of the Small
Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. whose purpose is to help people create a
Good Living—a useful and necessary product or service, an adequate income, and
personal growth. Edmund Phelps, Mass Flourishing,
Princeton University Press, 2013. James
Martin, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost)
Everything, HarperCollins, 2010. John Wren, Daring Might Things, Creative Space, 1994.

Small Business Chamber Plans announce this afternoon at Denver IDEA Salon, http://Meetup.com/Small-Business-Chamber. This is how media release starts. Check back here later for more, or join us this afternoon, 2:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant, Denver.

At
an IDEA Salon today, longtime community activist and adult educator John S Wren
announced the preliminary 2014 plans for the Small Business Chamber of
Commerce, Inc, a Colorado non-profit. Everyone is invited to comment on the dynamic
plans at the free IDEA Salon open discussion meeting, each Friday from 2:30 to
3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant, Denver. Free. For more
see http://www.SmallBizChamber.org
or call (303)861-1447

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Startup Show
Each day we talk about IDEA business creativity model.
Inspiration (Monday), Develop Alternatives (Tuesday), you get the idea.
Watch recording later if you can't stick around now. Usually 5 or 10 minutes.
Here's today's show:
Join us for an IDEA Salon, new open discussion meeting about startup.
Here in Denver or we'll help you start one near you with others.
http://www.SmallBizChamber.org

Google searches this past year on "build a website", "telemarketing", "public relations", compared to "recovery" (#1 most popular) and "coaching" which is #2 most used, compared to these other terms.
What does this mean? Using the words coaching and recovery hits consumer hot buttons. We know what to do, we just aren't doing it, that the help we are looking for now.
At least, that's what this trend analysis seems to be saying to me, what do you think?

Saturday, December 14, 2013

We need return to what built this country, vitalism and
dynamism. How can we best bring about the return.
First, take a look at this short video, consider buying
a copy of Mass Flourishing if you haven't done so already.
It's in all the book stores, Amazon, etc.

Watch and learn how the power of CreAction can transform you into an entrepreneurial thinker who will make the right decisions in an increasingly chaotic world. Action Trumps Everything by Babson College President Leonard A. Schlesinger and Innovation Associates President Charles Kiefer with writer Paul B. Brown can be downloaded free at: www.actiontrumpseverything.com.
Great 3-minute video that explains CreAction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZkaZYYxF_A&feature=share

I hope Pope Francis remembers the farmers who grow the wheat, the millers who make it into flour, the bakers who make it into bread, the wholesalers and retailers and restaurant owners who get it into the mouths of hungry people. Seems to me this process, year after year after year, is just as big of a miricle as Jesus feeding the 5,000 when he took the loaves, blessed, broke, and gave them. Only communist propaganda can blind us to this every day miracle.

"(Economic) production is essentially a form of cooperation among free individuals whose self-interested labor serves the best interest of all. The greatest “culture war” in history is to re-establish the moral significance of economic activity in the consciousness of modern political and cultural elites."

Unfortunately we had a Google+ problem, couldn't get connected. So here's what we would have talked about:
Karen is Executive Director or Denver Speakers Bureau (see web address on flier below) has a monthly speakers showcase on various topics, this month instead of the showcase they are having this book fair.
This Saturday afternoon 10 authors (or more, call if you want to participate) will answer question, have books with free gift wrapping if you bring a can of food for the charity drive.
Karen will talk about her book "Working for Peanuts: The LINUS Project. LINUS is a five-step guide for achieving success, Karen will decode for you Saturday and share her experience.
Chris Natzke is a 7th level black belt Tae Kwon Do who has a studio in Aurora. He's written a book applying the lessons of Tae Kwon Do to achieving your goals no matter what they are.
More information below and on Denver Speakers Bureau website.

The Pope draws attention to this important problem. God has given us the means to feed all people, right now we aren't using what we've been given. "Mass Flourish" by Nobel economist, just published by Princeton University Press, clearly shows exactly what the problem is and what needs to be done.

I hope Pope Francis and his advisors read this new book, or at least watch the lecture at Oxford University on YouTube, see link to it and other info below.

When there are dead bodies in the river it's not enough to just remove the bodies, we go up stream to see what's the root of the problem. That's exactly what Nobel economist Edmund Phelps does with this new book: http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10058.html ﻿

Seems to me it's directly relevant to how ideas, usually the result of fast thinking, in my experience, actually get started, which involves lots and lots of slow thinking.

IDEA is the acronym for the four-step creativity model I've been using for decades since one of my former professors at the University of Denver and myself developed it when I was working for Mountain Bell, which became US West, eventually what we have now, Century Link, back then we were the local operating company for the Bell Telephone System which was broken up.

Back then most of us paid a very small amount of money for local telephone service, and it was predicted that long distance would soon be free.

Some of those who pushed the breakup went to jail, or should have, now telephone service costs an arm and a leg. Clearly phone service was and is a natural monopoly and should be regulated. Will we ever have political leadership who has the guts to take on putting the genie back it the bottle?

In this 40 minute video I talk with Anthony Sanchez and Brian Grega, co-founders of a new business that launched this past Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, 2013. On the video below they talk about their backgrounds, how they got together and developed a friendship, and how they went from inspiration to launch with Infinite Buyer.

Brian and possibly Anthony will be with us tomorrow for our Denver IDEA Salon discussion group at 2:30 p.m. and our IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop at 3:45, both at the same place, Panera Bread, 13th & Grant, just a block from the Colorado Capitol. For more and to RSVP for either or both of the meetings see link to our Meetup.com site at SmallBizChamber.org (click)

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

The Startup Show, dedicated to helping you start in a new direction with your work, starting a new career, a new project or campaign, or a new business. Broadcast live by 5 p.m MST Monday thru Thursday on YouTube Live Broadcasts and Google+ Live Hangouts and here on JohnWren.com

If you'd like to be on the show or if you have suggestions of who we should invite, call John Wren at (303)861-1447 or post your suggestion as a comment here.

Now here is today's show:

Join us Fridays for an IDEA Salon for open discussion about startup and/or an IDEA Cafe startup workshop. Information about existing groups and how to start a new one in cooperation with your local chamber or other group can be found via our Meetup.com site, see link on http://www.SmallBizChamber.org.

Today we discuss what to do with the initial inspiration, the I in our IDEA model.

D is Develop Alternatives, there is more that one way to skin a cat, so we let our mind and the minds of others help us see potential next steps, people we might bring along, etc.

Some call this green light thinking, chunking up, we think more and more. Might not take lot, but we consider our options. Trick is to not get stuck on this stage, paralysis from analysis is deadly to new ideas.

Join us Friday? http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber To far away? Call and we'll help you start a new group in cooperation with your local chamber of commerce or other group. Call (303)861-1447.

If you are considering going back to school for an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) or a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) I hope you'll watch this, then give me a call if you are interested, call me at (303)861-1447. John Wren

Monday, December 02, 2013

We are here Monday thru Friday (usually), on live by 5 p.m. Mountain
Topic is startup, career, project or campaign, or a new business.
Join us at an IDEA Cafe or Salon, if there's not one near you start one, we'll help you.
See link to our Meetup.com site on http://www.SmallBizChamber.org

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

I just emailed this to the 600 people who have joined our Small Business Chamber Meetup site. If you haven't yet, join now, whether you can attend this afternoon or not. See http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

HELP OUR ECONOMY! PLEASE FORWARD TO A FRIEND WHO IS STARTING IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH THEIR
WORK. BETTER YET, CALL AND INVITE YOUR FRIEND!

Friday, November 29, 2013

Life is too short for any of us to learn from just our own experience!

Join us this afternoon for the Denver IDEA Cafe Startup Workshop at 3:45 p.m.
or the Denver IDEA Startup Salon at 2:30 p.m., both at Panera Bread, 13th &
Grant.

Our Small Business Chamber IDEA Cafe is the workshop that I've led here in
Denver for nearly 20 years. 5280 Magazine says it's infused Denver with an
entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for it any time you're headed in a new direction
with your work. We say if we're successful you'll be too busy to come back the
next week.

Our new IDEA Startup Salon is an open discussion meeting, we share startup
experience about topics that are brought by those attending. Join us anytime you
have a problem with your work as you start in a new direction, starting a new
career, a new project or campaign, or a new business. Most who attend have
already attended an IDEA Cafe, but that is not a requirement.

Right now we also have meetings in Englewood and Boulder County here in
metro-Denver, we are getting more serious about getting groups kicked off in
other parts of Denver, across Colorado, and possibly beyond. If you'd like our
help getting a new group started in cooperation with your local chamber or other
group give me a call.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Mass Flourishing came out in the fall, there was a review of it in the Wall Street Journal October 18, and the author has this talk and a similar talk that preceded it that he gave at Google Author Talks on YouTube. It should be on the best seller list by now, in my opinion.

Why do Seth Godin and Daniel Pink get so much more press? This is a real heavy weight in economics making some hard, insightful comments that should shake the world of economics to it's foundation, it should "transform economics" as mention in the introduction here:

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Each Tuesday here on The Startup Show we talk about what to do after the 1st A-ha!, after you've been inspired with the thought of a new business, project, campaign, or career.
IDEA is our four-step process, after nearly 2 decades of use, I've never found a better model for creative thinking, if you have one let me know.
We are also going to talk about the Wall Street Journal's CEO Forum online today, you can see the video's of two of the speakers, Gov Chris Christie and President Obama below, I'll use them as an excuse to talk about some of my thoughts on education as a business opportunity today. I'd be very interested in your comments here below or call me any time (303)861-1447.
In Denver? Join one or both of our self-directed learning groups this Friday, the Denver IDEA Salon and the Denver IDEA Cafe, more info and RSVP at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber If you'd like to start a group with your local chamber or other group, give me a call (303)861-1447

When pop was only 8 years old his dad died. In just about the last conversation we ever had, I asked pop why he never talked about his dad. "I resented him dying so young. My life would have been a lot better if he'd fought it a little harder." Pop's last words to mother: "Don't worry honey, we'll whip this."

Pop told me once he didn't want to give me his middle name Edgar because that would have made me a Junior, and his nickname growing up was Junior and he hated it. I imagine it stirred that resentment.

He and mom met at Amarillo High School. At one of their reunions dad answered the question "What is your proudest accomplishment" with the fact that he started a successful business, which mom didn't like.

He and mother moved to Colordo in 1949, I was 2 years old, my earliest memory was him calling me to the front yard there in Loveland to go to the warehouse with him. I worked for him full time my last two years in college, and we sold the business the summer of 1969, his friends who didn't see the fact that chain stores had changed distribution economics didn't make out nearly so well. That summer he changed his will to make me the executor and trustee of his estate if mother ever wasn't able to do it when he passed on. We had no idea he'd be gone only 10 short years later.

I grew up working each summer for dad, yard work and warehouse work. Driving to the warehouse was like going to a business training seminar. "Every morning you have to give yourself a pep talk." "Stay busy, there is always something to do." "Don't ever make jokes about money, employees never find them funny." "The price you sell for is based on what people are willing to pay, not what it cost you." "You can't sell from an empty wagon, always have plenty of inventory." "People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care." "You wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you knew how little they did it." "The best is just barely good enough." "Whatever you do, be in business for yourself, even if it's just to have a pop corn stand." "Every home should have a Montgomery Wards catalog, when kids look through it they learn how to dream." "Every thing you see once started as someone's idea." "The definition of a living wage depends on whether you are getting it or paying it." "The profit in the wholesale business depends on how well you handle the merchandise that doesn't sell. (Bin-X)"

Dad fought cancer for several years. He was mistreated for prostate cancer, caused it unnecessarily to spread. The son of the doctor who treated him came to a meeting I'd organized one time and told me how grateful his family was we hadn't sued. Never entered my mind. Not much did those days, I was filled with grief, youngest daughter Allie was born 10 days after pop died, the pastor at our church who had been so helpful to me moved out of town, and a therapist I'd been seeing did the same thing. What I saw as the solution to my problems turned out to be the biggest of my problems.

Decades later I went to mother's 50th high school reunion with her. I was astonished at how popular she was, she'd been a cheer leader, home coming queen, voted most popular, was awarded a full scholarship to Colorado Women's College, then instead married dad when he was discharged from the Navy. At the reunion I finally understood why it made her so made that pop had thought of his business as his proudest accomplishment. How he ever got her to marry him, charismatic, hardworking, bright, but without owning a car, not even having a job, surely getting her to say yes was the most important sale he ever made. Mother took care of their home, me and my brothers, there is just no way he could have been as successful as he was without her help.

We miss you pop, but none of us who were with you those final years can ever say you didn't fight it as hard as you could. Thank you for all you did for all of us in your short life.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Startup Show today will focus on action, the fourth step of our IDEA business creativity model. I-Inspiration, D-Develop Alternatives, E-Evaluate Alternatives, and then this forth step, actually getting to work. We take four days to look at these each week, but may just take moments to go through them all when you are in the middle of a battle.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Here's 5-minutes of startup experience and ideas you can count on right here on my JohnWren.com live by 5 each day Monday thru Friday. Watch, then continue the conversation by posting your comment here or call me on The Startup Line (303)861-1447.

Today's topic is Evaluation, how you decide whether to go forward or not? Johnny Cash said that in poker you have to "know when to hold em, know when to fold em, and when to run away." How do we decide in startup, especially when it's a big idea.
Earlier today, SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show talked with well known executive coach Stever Robbins about Internet Success Myths & How They Are Fleecing You, you can see it right below here on JohnWren.com. Stever is very interesting, funny, it's worth a few minutes of your time, take a look.

(Click here) for Daring Mighty Things-- The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business by me. 99-cents in the Kindle edition, I'll give you $1 back if you don't find it helpful.

Best book on startup for the person who wants to get going now, Just Start, see http://Just-Start.com

For the business adviser or teacher best book on startup is Amar Bhide's The Origin & Evolution of New Businesses. http://bhide.net

HELP YOUR FRIENDS, PLEASE POST THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, PRINT & POST.

In this SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show host John Wren talks with Stever Robbins about his recent post on his Facebook Page announcing that he was no longer doing work for free. We called him and asked for this one last free interview, about why the new policy and Stever's views about Internet success stories:

Stever Robbins is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded the early internet success story FTP Software, served as COO of Building Blocks Interactive, CEO of JobTacToe.com, and has been an initial team member of ten start-ups, including four IPOs and three acquisitions. He was project manager at Intuit, where he co-led the development of the award-winning Quicken VISA Card. He serves as business plan judge for the Harvard Business School business plan competition, the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards, the William James Foundation social enterprise competition, and the Mass Challenge entrepreneurship competition.

His experience developing organizational leaders began as co-designer of Harvard Business School’s “Leadership and Learning” curriculum redesign, and has gone on to include being an advisor and mentor to senior managers in several high-growth companies.

His Get-It-Done-Guy podcast has spent weeks as #1 in the iTunes business category and has been downloaded more than 17.5 million times. He has been a repeat commentator on CNN-fn’s Entrepreneurs Only and hosted a regular segment on the nationally syndicated radio show Entrepreneurs, Living the American Dream. He is a featured expert in Harvard Business School Publishing’s Harvard Manage Mentor, as well as appearing as an expert in critical thinking and memory in Houghton-Mifflin’s forthcoming Skillbuilders series.

He has been interviewed in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, ABC News Now, MSNBC, FOX News, BusinessWeek Online, and Investor’s Business Daily. He has written for Harvard Business Review, The Boston Business Journal and has had columns on Entrepreneur.com, Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge, and the Quick and Dirty Tips network.

Stever holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BS in Computer Sciences from MIT He is a graduate of W. Edward Deming’s Total Quality Management training program, a Certified Master Trainer Elite of NLP.

This afternoon on The Startup Show I'll be talking about how to evaluate a big idea. What do you do when you are the only one that can see the vision?

The Small Business Administration teaches that you should share your idea with a lot of people, if they don't think what you are doing is a good idea, change your idea. Steve Blank and Eric Rise say pretty much the same thing in that regard.

Is this how most big ideas got off the ground, there was a ground swell of popular support? Watch for the show live today on YouTube Live Broadcasts or Google+ Live Hangouts, or come back here to this site about 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, or any time after that for a link to the YouTube recording.

We'll also be talking about this at our Denver IDEA Salon this Friday, free and open to everyone. No RSVP required, but that saves a seat for you until the start of the meeting, more info at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

...the university will be able to add even more visiting positions and extend the length of the program geared toward exploring entrepreneurship.

“The vision for our school is to be truly person-centered. In pursuit of that goal it is imperative for us to conduct research oriented to the common good and to focus on understanding how business and economics become more effective when they are more humane," Abela added. "That’s the enterprise in which these visiting scholars will engage during their time with us."

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Once you've had an inspiration, developed, alternatives, how do you evaluate before taking action.

Often times you don't. That's why the Babson College motto is "Entrepreneurial Thought and Action." The true entrepreneur is inclined to get the idea, then go out and do it.

But there is value in taking a few minutes, any way, to reflect first. That's the topic of our show today:

SBA Councilors Are Standing By To Help You Now:

If you're in Denver, hope you can join us Friday afternoon. 2:30 p.m. IDEA Group Open Startup Discussion, bring a topic or just share about topics others raise. Then at 4 p.m. IDEA Startup Workshop, we share startup experience and brainstorm. Both are free, join us. If you'd like to start similar groups in cooperation with your local chamber or other group, call me any time (303)861-1447

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Each Tuesday quick update on one aspect of business creativity and what's happening with startup and small business. Today John Wren will talk about the first SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show and what is planned for the future:

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but you talk too much. I know you think you don't, but seriously, you do.

Take this simple test: After your next long conversation with someone, estimate what percentage of it you spent talking. Be honest. No, you're already underestimating. How do I know? Because it's more fun to talk than to listen. Talking is like drinking a great Cabernet. Listening is like doing squats.

Add another 20% to your total.

If you talked more than 70% of the time, you jabber too much. I know, because my son has Asperger's syndrome, and part of his education was learning conversational dynamics.

People with Asperger's tend to give monologues about their obsessions, which can be problematic socially. It's hard to get a date after you've just told a girl all the subway stops in North America.

Dr. Lynn Koegel, who is clinical director of Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, says that an optimal conversation flow has each person talking about 50% of the time. This is the Ali-Frazier of good give-and-take.

But, you say, what if your talking partner is just quiet and loves to listen? Stop it. She doesn't. Listening is like reading a corporate report. Talking is like eating a cinnamon bun.

So how do you achieve this 50-50 conversational ideal? Easy: ask questions. But don't think that one "How are you?" is going to turn you into Oprah. Actually listen to what the other person is saying, and find openings.

For instance: Your friend says, "I think that Henry the intern is probably a psychopath."

Now if you're inclined to say, "So's my mother! Yesterday, at the museum, she…" don't. You're talking too much. Instead, try, "Why do you think Henry's a psychopath, and if he's cute, would he be good for my niece?"

Now you're doing great. Your friend will love telling you about Henry. When she's done, if you really must, you can tell the anecdote about your mom. But if you're talking about someone whom your conversation partner doesn't know, especially a mother, keep it short—one minute tops, unless it's a truly fantastic story. And to qualify as such, at least five people need to have said to you in the past, "Wow, that's a fantastic story." Not "a great story" but "a fantastic story."

I can hear you complaining already: "One minute? But I need to include all the details." No you don't. Just get to the part when, on a crowded elevator, your mom turned to you and said, "I wish I could press the up button on your boobs." Your job is to quickly entertain and inform, and then to ask good questions.

Also, let your chattering breathe a little. One dastardly arrow in the big talker's quiver is to slow down in the middle of his sentence, then to blow through the period so that there's no opening for anyone to squeeze a word in. Secretly tape one of your own conversations, and if you realize you do this, stop it or never go out in public again...

So when reading this piece, did you recognize yourself? Did it perhaps make you think of someone else? If so, wouldn't it be great to send it to him? But you don't want to hurt his feelings, so how would you go about it?

Decent questions, right? Now I'll sit back and let you talk.

—Mr. LaZebnik is a writer on "The Simpsons."A version of this article appeared October 4, 2013, on page C3 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: The Talk, Talk, Talk of the Town.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Grassroots, that's our mission at the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Towards that end, we are trying something new on Monday.

We are recruiting a panel of experts in Google+ Hangouts to talk about how they have used it in their marketing efforts on this first SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show.

We'd love to have you with us if that is you!

Call me at (303)861-1447 and leave a complete message if you get the voice mail. We also want the people who are on Monday to have posted an intro of themself on our Facebook Page, see http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber

Video returns Monday, live by 5, it's Inspiration Monday.

Hope you have a great weekend. I'm headed for the University of Denver Alumni Weekend, I'll be posting photos and notes on my Facebook wall http://Facebook.com/John.S.Wren

Thursday, October 24, 2013

The Startup Show, today our focus is on ideA Action! Creativity means to bring something new into being, so the inspiration, developing alternatives, evaluating none of it means anything without Action!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Get the book Creative Confidence by the Kelley Brothers, you can see what I'm saying about it and the praise from others on Twitter #CreativeConfinence

If you're in Denver join us this Friday afternoon to discuss Creative Confidence and any other topic about startup you have on your mind at our Denver IDEA Group Open Startup Discussion Meeting, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant, just a block from the Capitol. More info and opinional RSVP at http://Meetup.com/Small-Biz-Chamber

READ:HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

“Most people are born creative. As children, we revel in imaginary play, ask outlandish questions, draw blobs and call them dinosaurs. But over time, because of socialization and formal education, a lot of us start to stifle those impulses. We learn to be warier of judgment, more cautious, more analytical. The world seems to divide into “creatives” and “noncreatives,” and too many people consciously or unconsciously resign themselves to the latter category.” —Tom & David KelleyTom and David Kelley expand on the concept of creative confidence in this issue of theHarvard Business Review magazine. Read “Reclaim Your Creative Confidence.” Available in German here.

WATCH: DAVID KELLEY AT TED

Is your school or workplace divided into “creatives” versus practical people? Yet surely, David Kelley suggests, creativity is not the domain of only a chosen few. Telling stories from his legendary design career and his own life, he offers ways to build the confidence to create.
Watch “How to Build Your Creative Confidence” here.

Monday, October 21, 2013

5-minutes about how to start a new career, a new project or campaign, or a new business, live by 5 p.m. each day Monday thru Friday. Post news about yourself and/or your business on http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber, hightlighted each day here.

Our topics for each day of the week will be:
Mondays: Idea Inspiration
Tuesdays: iDea Develop Alternatives
Wednesday: idEa Evaluate
Thursday: ideA Action!
Friday: Grassroots in Business and Politics

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Just posted this on http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber. Please go there and "Like" if you haven't already, "Share", then be sure to watch Inspiration Monday on The Startup Show right here and encourage your neighbors to do the same with as much social network and personal phone call power as you can.

Here, in celebration of Christopher Wren's birthday, is the message that was posted there I hope you'll "Like" and "Share":

Our vision: A healthy small group in every neighborhood.

Why? To strengthen the grassroots, the voice of the common person in business and politics, in cooperation with everyone, especially with local chamber of commerce, community newspapers, and schools.

To join just "Like" this Facebook Page, "Share" with your Facebook friends with your note about why you like what we are doing.

Then watch our weekly broadcast tomorrow or any Monday for our new feature "Inspiration Monday" about how we can each take action locally in our own neighborhood to help accomplish this world- wide vision.

What we are trying to make viral is what was first and best expressed over 2000 years ago: "Love God and love your neighbors, those who 1) live right next door, and 2) those who you are directly helping, as God has loved us. +

Friday, October 18, 2013

I'm going to start focusing on grassroots politics each Friday. In my opinion, if you are starting a new business, getting involved one way or the other with the grassroots is one of the most powerful networking activities you can undertake. You do well by doing good.

This is educational, not political. I'm not going to take positions on issues or candidates, as is the policy of our Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc. http://www.SmallBizChamber.org

A blog I started is broadening it's educational scope to include the major power tools for the common man who want to just use the political process as a way to connect with movers and shakers, and especially who is open to the day of one day serving in elected public office or helping other good people get elected. See http://www.COCaucus.org

I'll be broadcasting soon, you can watch here or on YouTube Live Broadcasts or Google+ Live Hangouts. Your questions are always welcome. Post them here as a comment or call The Startup Line (303)861-1447.

Normally, I'd be embedding our broadcast here right now, you can see how that's worked for the last few days. Now, with no notice, Google has changed, broadcasts will only be able to be seen on our Google+ site (link below) or our YouTube Channel.

Today on The Startup Show I talk about my experience and some of what Fr. Tony shared earlier this week at a lecture, some information that was new to me that you might find helpful. See broadcast live here at 5 p.m. Mountain, or come back and watch the recording anytime.

I just got the Kelley brother's new book Creative
Confidence.
Right away, had the idea for this: Using Twitter
to share my tips for being more creative, encourage
others to post their's. My 2nd Tweet on this:

Ads and Twitter Feeds Here Not Endorsements!

Advertisements on this site are sold by Google, I post things I don't agree with for purposes of discussion, and nothing on this site should be taken as a sign of endorsement by me. If you have any question about this, please call John Wren, (303)861-1447.

John Wren's Daring Mighty Things-- The Simplest Way to Start Your First (or Next) New Business.

Search on Amazon.com John Wren Daring

John Wren is the founder & CEO of Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

click on picture to go to SBCC.

GUEST ON SPECIAL EDITION?

Do you have a compelling story about startup that you'd be willing to share on SPECIAL EDITION The Startup Show?

Here is what we ask you to do to become a guest on the show:

Post a short (one sentence is best) introduction or news about you and your business and link to your URL. Then make sure I consider you as a guest, call me at (303)861-1447 if you don't hear from me in a day or two.

After you've posted your intro, be an active participant on our Facebook Page. http://Facebook.com/Small.Business.Chamber "Like" and "Share" the Page, comment on what others have posted. Encourage your Facebook friends to do the same. Help make it a 24/7 resource for startups and small business, and you'll help make it a good tool for you to use when you have an announcement.

John Wren (720)495-4949

AMDG + Start + Grow + Flourish.

Ads here does not imply endorsement or approval. SBCC cooperates with local chambers to provide more real help to just start. IDEA Salons & Workshops. For more click on logo or go to .SmallBizChamber.org

John S. Wren, MBA+

Ads here on this site from Google, does not mean they have my endorsement. Want to know my opinion? Call now, let's talk about how I can help you. Contact me now, while it is on your mind, at (720)495-4949

People are talking about the IDEA Cafe:

"like the group and leader a lot."

— Mike O'Neil

"If you need help figuring out what to do next, or not sure where to go or how to approach your business, this is definitely the group for you!"

— Andrea

"John Wren is an inspiration and leader in the Denver Business Community. He truly has a giving spirit sharing his years of varied and successful experience with new (and emerging) business owners. His IDEA cafe is truly a gift!"

-- Susan Roberts,ActionCOACH

Brainstorming?

5280 Magazine on John Wren and IDEA Cafe:

Every Friday for the last 10 years, local business consultant John Wren has infused the city with entrepreneurial spirit by hosting Idea Cafe, a conversation group for anyone starting a new career, business, or campaign.